RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 



of our greatest ships remained, which cast anker, assur- 

 ing our men of good amity. They asked how the chiefe ^-^^ Spaniards 

 captaine of the enterprise did, & called them all by ^^da-mhnng 



.^ . . ^ T . ^ i and surprising 



their names and surnames. 1 report me to you it it of the French, 

 could be otherwise but these men before they went out 

 of Spaine must needs be informed of the enterprise & 

 of those that were to execute the same. About the 

 breake of day they began to make toward our men : 

 but our men which trusted them never a deale, had 

 hoysed their sailes by night, being ready to cut the 

 strings that tyed them. Wherefore perceiving that this 

 making toward our men of the Spaniards was not to 

 doe them any pleasure, and knowing wel that their 

 furniture was too smal to make head against them, 

 because that the most part of their men were on shore, 

 they cut their cables, left their ankers, and set saile. 

 The Spaniards seeing themselves discovered, lent them 

 certaine volleis of their great ordinance, made saile after 

 them, and chased them all day long : but our men got 

 way of them still toward the sea. And the Spaniards 

 seeing they could not reach them, by reason that the 

 French ships were better of saile then theirs, and also 

 because they would not leave the coast, turned backe 

 and went on shore in the river Seloy, which we cal the The river 

 river of Dolphines 8 or 10 leagues distant from the "^f^^-^ ^Sn^ 

 place where we were. Our men therefore finding them- ^^^^^^ |^^ g ~^ 

 selves better of saile then they, followed them to descry \o leagues 

 what they did, which after they had done, they returned over land from 

 unto the river of May, where captaine Ribault having {^^A'{-* ^^^ 

 descried them, embarked himselfe in a great boat to ^^Q^jyulL^h^ 

 know what newes they had. Being at the entry of the Cape by sea. 

 river he met with the boat of captaine Cousets ship, 

 wherin there was a good number of men which made 

 relation unto him of all the Spaniards doings : and how 

 the great ship named the Trinitie had kept the sea, 

 and that she was not returned with them. They 

 told him moreover that they had seen three Spanish 

 ships enter into the river of Dolphins, & the other 



89 



